Having been 85% destroyed by bombing during the Second World War, it successfully embraced the age of modernism to become the ‘playground’ for those French modernist architects inspired by what was happening in Brazil.
In addition to its architecture, open skies and easy-going lifestyle, this irresistible resort is full of surprises!
©Mélanie Chaigneau - OT Royan
What to see
- The seafront
- The central market
- The Church of Notre Dame
- Villa Hélianthe
- The Conference Centre
- Villa Boomerang
- Yacht Club
- Villa Sextant - Le Corbusier
- Villa Bonne Anse
- The Parc district
- The Foncillon district
Villa Boomerang ©OT Royan-Ph. Souchard
What to do
- Visit Royan Museum
- A vintage night at the Trident Thyrsé hotel
- Admire the seaside architecture of the Boulevard Frédéric Garnier
- Enjoy music on the beach with Un violon sur le sable
- Go shopping in the central market
- Hit the seafront boutiques
- Play a round (or two) of golf
- Have a night out at the casino
- Stretch out and soak up the sun on the beach
- Go horse riding on the beach
- Walk the Sentier des Douaniers footpath
Halles de Royan ©Infiniment Charentes
And nearby:
- The Corduan Lighthouse
- The Coubre Lighthouse
- Le Palmyre Zoo
- The oyster farming villages around the Seudre river basin between La Tremblade and Marennes
- The Île d’Oléron
- The Gironde estuary
- Talmont-sur-Gironde
- Mornac-sur-Seudre
- The Regulus caves at Meschers-sur-Gironde
- Gironde estuary cruises
- Kayaking through the salt marshes
Cordouan ©Boute - CRTNA
What to eat & drink
- Oysters
- Sea salt
- Charente melons
- Samphire
- An éclade of mussels
- Grillon Charentais paté
- Grattons (dried and compressed pork, goose, chicken or duck fat)
- Farcis Charentais stuffing
- A chowder
- Jonchée fresh cheese
- Bouchot mussels
- Charentes-Poitou butter
- Ice creams from Confiserie Lopez
- Cakes from Pâtisserie Laurent
What to bring back
- Traditional handmade biscuits
- Pineau des Charentes
- Cognac
- Poitou-Charentes PDO butter biscuits
- Salt
- Perles de Saintonge chocolates from Pâtisserie Laurent (the house speciality)
Follow us, the editors of Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Tourisme.com as we show you around… our home.
From the peaks of the Pyrenees to the Marais Poitevin canals via the wharfs of Bordeaux, the beaches of the Atlantic to the shores of Lake Vassivière near Limoges, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is full of fascinating, entertaining stories that will amuse one and all.